Crankcase ventilation kit



W. E. DRINKARD CRANKCASE VENTILATION KIT Filed Sept. 23, 1948 AAAA Oct. 20, 1953 INVENTOR.

17 TTA/Y/VEKS,

Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CRANKCASE VENTILATION KIT William E. Drinkard, Birmingham, Mich., as-

signor to Chrysler Corporation, Highland Park, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application September 23, 1948, Serial No. 50,740

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a system serving as a supply for filtered outside air, and more particularly to apparatus delivering clean air to ventilate an engine crankcase.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a crankcase ventilation kit which employs a high resistance air filter and is able to furnish the large pressure differential necessary to promote operation of the filter.

Another object is to produce a device which supplements the conventional aspirator system used with engine crankcase during slow vehicle operation and which substitutes for the conventional aspirator system altogether when the latter is dormant due to lack of forward motion of the vehicle.

A further object is to provide a construction simple in parts and more efiicient in use than those heretofore proposed.

Still another object is to produce a device assuring positive displacement of air in the crankcase at all times the engine is operating, continually eliminating vitiating fumes and vapors.

Yet another object is to provide means whereby only clean cool outside air is furnished to the crankcase.

A still further object is to provide means whereby during advanced operating speeds of the vehicle at which time the normal aspirator efiect suffices to ventilate the crankcase amply, positive action of the forced draft system is discontinued.

Yet a further object is to produce a device so related to the engine that it will not be exposed to sludging action during its operation.

An additional object is the production of means whereby air is forcibly passed through confining passages and reliance does not have to be placed in the pressure afforded by unenclosed air currents and unshrouded fans such as would fail to insure positive displacement of the air.

Further objects and advantages are within the scope of this inventionsuch as relates to the arrangement, operation, and functioning of the related elements of the structure, to various details and combination of parts, elements per se, and. to economies of manufacture and numerous other features as will be apparent from a consideration of the specification and drawings of a form of the invention, which may be preferred, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to an internal combustion engine;

' with varying results.

Fig. 2 is a view in enlarged transverse section of the structure of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view showing the device in longitudinal section.

In reference now in detail to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, respectively, of the accompanying drawings:

Numeral 8 is used to designate a conventional vehicle engine comprising a cylinder block I0, a crankcase 20, a mechanical transmission 30, and an ignition system 40. A crankcase ventilation kit according to the present invention is indicated at 50.

The usual vehicle lubricating system includes an upstanding mouth l2 on the block through which the crankcase breathes and is supplied with oil. The lubricating oil assumes some intermediate level in the crankcase, partially filling it. Fumes over the surface of the oil, accumulating within the crankcase chamber 14, are normally led into the valve chamber 16 and supposedly conducted out through the road draft tube 22 and into the atmosphere by aspiration or induction.

These fumes and vapors, coming from various sources, are sought to be eliminated for different reasons. Water vapors, present in the crankcase due to engine blow-by and other causes, are desirably eliminated continually since, when the engine is allowed to cool off, they would otherwise condense in the chamber and into the oil. The next engine operation would cause an emulsion to result which would tend to mayonnaise up the oil filter and impede the oil filtering process. Certain other products of combustion which blow by the pistons or else are drawn down past the seal rings have a deitrimental effect on the engine. If they represent oxidized oil or other sludge formers, they should be eliminated before they mingle with the lubricating oil and contaminate it. If they contain sulfur compounds and are not expelled, they may corrode the valve springs, timing chains, piston pins, and the like. These same products of combustion may well be sources of lacquer formation if allowed to accumulate. Again, there may be raw gasoline or gasoline vapors passing by the seal rings which unless expelled, will mix with the lubricating oil to cause crankcase dilution.

Ventilation of the crankcase produces air changes which eliminate these vapors and performs also the salutary service of cooling the oil supply and the engine. Many means have been devised to accomplish this function and One system tried made use of a circulating fan for leading the vapors away to be cooled and then reintroducing them to the crankcase. The disadvantage was that the same corrosive and otherwise objectionable vapors were merely circulated around the engine. Moreover, in time this circulating fan would sludge up. Another technique resorted to was the provision ofeductors associated withthe intake manifold orwarburetor, which drew off the crankcase vapors. This technique was found to be unsatisfactory inasmuch as the self-same vapors reappeared again in the crankcase ,as blowby, having during the mterimmereiy'passed into the combustion chambers andescaped right back into crankcase.

One reason for designers shying away using an outside source of air has been that proper cleansing of it demanded of the system provision for a high pressure differential. inherent quality of oil bath cleaners and other resistance cleanersrsuitable .for -.the purpose is a large pressure drop for :proper operation. If a-rIoad drait tube or aneductor-on the (exhaust system was to be used to draw a vacuum in -a crankcase equipped with a .high resistance filter, at slow vehicle and engine speeds sucha natural means, inherently not of positive action, would be grossly inadequate. Then during :protracted idling conditions, particularly in the example of door to door delivery trucks, taxis, and the like, objectionable @agents would tend to accumulate -.the engine. Thesame result would be occasioned upon employing a portionnfthelfresh air supply delivered Joy the engine .fan to the filter-or bya forwardly facing .airscoop.

.The instant invention .Lis able to surmount the foregoing -difiilltl6$ at all vehicle and engine speeds. Further-more, additional provision is made whereby at "higher engine .and vehicle .speedsthenatural ventilation created bylthe road draft-.ortrailingtube maybe rliedon exclusively, -it beingequa'l to .the .task .under 'those conditions. .Hence the undesirable vapors .and accumulations will be dispelled at all times.

The ventilation .kit .50 includes .a combination introduction tube 32 .-mounted on'bloc'k mouth 12, the tube'hrandh'ing .upwardly'in'to an o'il-ffill pipe .branch 54 and an .air Iductbranch 56. The pipe branch '54 is .closediby anoil filler cap5'8 sealed as withanair tight washeri60. The other branch 56 of this conduit system "terminates upwardly .in a casing 32..

.In TF'i'gureB is shown the interior of -casing. In .the discharge side .may "be flow producing means such .as disk ifan or "centrifugal blower impeller .64, gjournalled in its scroll 66 and pow- "eredaslby an electric motor. 'Theiimpellerex- .pls air downwardly into duct 56 by positive or Ifor'ced action, the air being drawn "from shelll'll. Received'by 'theifianges l2 and 14 of the :shell maybe seen an air .cleaner 16. This 'c'leanermay he :a lhighresistance device such as of "oil'bath type, and will communicate'with the outside "air throughinlet means 18. Inside, there may be an oil pool '80 in which may be immersed an annular 'embossment 82 depending from the :filter cartridge 84. The intake air may thereby be inducted throughthe combination oil bath and filtermaterial 86, down 'into'passage 88 leading to shell 10. This intake air, cleaned, "will then have' n'o tendency tosludge up or otherwise foul 'the impeller means and its blade surfaces.

In reference to Fig. 1 particularly, input power :to the motor 68 may be supplied through ignition switch '42. This switchiis used primarily inconventional engines to close the circuit between the battery 48 and the induction coil 44 and distributor 46. Thus when the ignition is turned on, the ventilation kit would be called into action. Air would then pass through the entire kit housing and into the crankcase.

Since at advanced road speeds the natural aspirationaefiectgproducedby ttrailinigtube 22 is of the '-order to overcome ithe housing resistance to air flow, it may be found advantageous under :such an eventuality to deenergize the motor 68 circuit. Speed responsive means 32 may be provid'ed 'forthe'operation which may then be renderedzantomatic. .Interposed in series with the .lead conductors dill and 36, this means 32 is Eshnwn for the :purposes of the schematic representation as being .located in the mechanical transmission "36 so "as to be sensitive to speed changes therein by governor action. The function of speed responsive means 32 is to provide impeller motor .68 with powerfor operation sluring w vehicle .and engine speeds, as .tor .example, during idling. .At higher .speeds, how ever, device 32 is desirably automatically factuated to disconnect the .motorand. render it -inactive such asby operiing-theeontactsliil. Hence, device 32 lends itsellf equally well .to .responseby .a pressure switch interposed in .the .oil lines or engine coolant lines, the pressures exerted by the liquids contained therein varying with Zengine speeds. The generator voltage cutout rrlay on conventional vehicles .or voltage regulator or a voltage trip could as easily be employed. Again, if the vehicle happens .to be equipped with .an automatic transmission, the .relays or governor therein would serve as speed sensitive actuators for the contacts 3.8.

'Thus'byreferrin-g toythe foregoing de'ta'fled description there has been .made a suffic'ient idisclosure so as to enable a person skilled 'in .the art to accomplish the objects specified at the outset as "being sought after.

What is claimed 'is:

'1. Apparatus of the .character described for providingrpositive crankcase ventilation to .anengine powered transmission driven vehicle, .including: a-combination introduction t1ibe,.an o'il- ;fill pipe branch, anair-ductbranch, eachof said branches having an upper andalower end, the tube being mountab1e on the engine in communicating relation with thetcrankcase and extending upwardly and terminating in 'thelower-end of aid branches, .a casing with an external open ing, "the casing being .moun'table atop Ltheengiine for securing the upper end of the duotlthereto, .an oil .bath cleaner within th'ecasinet airfhandling means within the casing for drawing toutside air through said external opening and cleaner and'forcing the air throu'gh'the tube, said transmission'having speedsensitive means'operatively controlled and mounted therein and remote to the engine and casing and comprising circuit means including switch contacts effective to control operationofthe 'airhandling'means in a manner to "drop output delivery of the latter at high engine-vehicle speed, and "detachabile means mounted on the upperiend'of thepipefifor allowing oil tobe admittedtothe crankcase, the detachable means cooperating with the 'duct in confining the airtravl.

2. For use-witha=vehicle having-an-enginepow ered transmission having speed sensitive means operatively controlled and mounted therincomprising switch-conta'cts 'openablefand closable in response to speed, "and an engine crankcase, in

the combination with a road draft tube and an oil fill pipe communicating with the crankcase, a unitary auxiliary kit comprising a high resistance means having an exterior inlet opening to atmosphere and being connected to a location on said fill pipe so as to admit cleaned air to the crankcase through at least a portion of the fill pipe and an electrically powered impeller means associated with the high resistance means such that the latter is disposed between said exterior inlet opening and said impeller means, and said impeller means providing for positive air displacement, said electrically powered impeller means having an operating circuit therefor including said speed closable switch contacts which latter are arranged for closing to actuate said operating circuit and thereby cause said impeller means to operate under power the draft through the high resistance means being alternatively induced by the aspirator effect of the road draft tube, forced by the impeller means, or effected by the combination of the inducing and forcing agents.

3. For use with a Vehicle having the engine crankcase equipped with a road draft tube and a transmission fitted with a speed device comprising switch contacts effective therein to open and close in response to speed, a high resistance means adapted to admit cleaned air to the crankcase, and electric operating means associated with the high resistance means including an energizing circuit therefor and adapted to furnish positively the draft through the high resistance means only during the vehicle speed condition when the draft induced by the road draft tube is inadequate for the crankcase ventilation desired, said switch contacts being included in said electric operating means energizing circuit.

4. In a vehicle, a propulsion power plant comprising an engine crankcase, a vehicle drive including transmission means operable to effect relatively low and relatively high vehicle drive speeds, a high resistance ventilation kit having an electrically operated blower provided with an electric driving motor, an electric power circuit connected to said electric driving motor, said kit having an exterior opening to atmosphere and comprising high resistance ventilation means constructed and arranged between said exterior opening and said electrically operated blower to provide the engine crankcase with cleaned fresh air change therefrom, and circuit controlling means in the transmission means operable when the vehicle is being driven at relatively low and relatively high speeds for respectively controlling cut-in and cut-out of the motor thus closing the circuit to render the blower operative at relatively low vehicle speeds in providing forced draft fresh air ventilation of the crankcase.

5. In a vehicle, a propulsion power plant comprising an engine crankcase, a vehicle drive means operable to effect relatively low and relatively high vehicle drive speeds and comprising a transmission having electrical contact incorporated therein, a high resistance ventilation kit having an electrically operated blower provided with an electric motor, a battery, and an electric circuit effective to connect said contacts between said blower motor and battery, the kit having an exterior opening to atmosphere and comprising high resistance ventilation means constructed and arranged between said exterior opening and said electrically operated blower to provide the engine crankcase with cleaned fresh air changes therefrom, and circuit controlling means in the transmission operable when the vehicle is being driven at relatively low and relatively high speeds and arranged to close the contacts to close the circuit effective between the battery and motor at relatively low vehicle speeds in providing forced draft ventilation to the crankcase.

6. In a vehicle, a propulsion power plant comprising an engine having a crankcase and a road draft tube providing for induced draft ventilation of the latter and being effective in correspondence to the natural induction proportionate to vehicle speed, vehicle drive means connected to the power plant and being operator-operable to effect relatively low and relatively high vehicle drive speeds and having electrical contacts, a Ventilation kit having an electrically operated blower and a combination oil bath and filter cleaner, a battery, an electric circuit effective to connect said contacts between said blower and said battery, the electric blower and combination oil bath and filter cleaner being constructed and arranged to provide the engine crankcase with forced draft cleaned air changes, and circuit controlling means controlled by the vehicle drive means and being operated thereby at the relatively low vehicle speeds at which the natural induction draft is inadequate, to close said contacts to close said electrical circuit and render the blower operative for providing forced draft ventilation at low vehicle speeds only, the necessity for forcing of the draft being the positive action required to drive air against the high resistance offered by the combination cleaner.

WILLIAM E. DRINKARD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,685,985 Dearborn Oct. 2, 1928 1,766,900 Griswold June 24, 1930 1,777,319 MacPherson Oct. 7, 1930 1,927,554 McCleery Sept. 19, 1933 2,029,216 Barker Jan. 28, 1936 2,189,000 Esposito Feb. 6, 1940 2,227,927 Downs Jan. 7, 1941 2,466,328 Roeder et al Apr. 5, 1949 2,524,597 Kline et a1. Oct. 3, 1950 

